Everyone is so excited to graduate high school and go to college. You hear from your older friends and peers it is the best four years of your life and that you meet the men and women that will be in your wedding. Everything is made out to be an amazing experience and you think that nothing is going to stand in your way. This is exactly how I felt when I was a senior in high school and nearing my college days. It was not till after I had graduated and move-in day started to creep up on me that I became nervous and unsure about my future. College was the first awakening to the "real world" for me and that I needed to figure out what I want to do with my life. So I have some tips for you on how I survived and eventually thrived freshmen year and how to cope with being in a new environment.

1. Stay close with god and read your devotion daily
   1. I am gonna be honest with you, there were definitely days when I first started college that I felt extremely alone and so strengthening my relationship with God really helped me feel at peace and that He was always by my side.
2. Do not be afraid to email your professors or ask older people for help in a class
   1. Being in a sorority, I found girls who were in my same major that I can go to and ask questions about classes and professors but even if you're not in greek life, get close with your professors and trust me it will help at the end of the semester.
3. Live life on the positive side
   1. It is so easy to get bogged down in the negatives of college life and stress that comes with it but if you have a smile on your face and a little optimism it not only helps you feel better but can help others around you have a positive attitude.
4. Everything takes time
   1. Not everything that you want is going to be given to you or handed to you on a silver platter. Making friends takes time and work. Making a good grade in a class takes time and effort. Adapting to the new college environment takes time and a step out of your comfort zone is sometimes needed. Realizing that there are things that you can and can not change is something that I had to accept during freshmen year.